The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration extended the comment period on its proposal to establish a national clearinghouse for drug and alcohol test results.

Originally, comments were due Monday April 21, but the agency pushed that back to May 21 in response to a petition from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.

The rule will set up a system in which everyone associated with the federal drug and alcohol testing program will have to report test results, refusals to take a test and return-to-duty results.

The purpose is to tighten the regulatory net by preventing commercial drivers from hiding drug or alcohol violations and ensuring that carriers are meeting their responsibility to test for substance abuse.

OOIDA said it needs more time to prepare comments on the complex proposal, not just on behalf of its general membership but also on behalf of the drug testing consortium it runs for some of its members.

In extending the comment period, FMCSA said it acknowledges OOIDA’s concerns.